I’m Lt Col Grant Kerr, a Royal Engineer Professionally Qualified Officer posted to the DIO. My initial role was as a Requirements Manager for 12 months. However, since August 2015 I have been a Project Manager within our Major Projects team working on the Lightning project. This will provide part of the new infrastructure necessary to support the RAFs new F-35B Lightning aircraft at RAF Marham. F-35B planes will also operate from the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.
Lightning Infrastructure
Things have moved on from David Salmond’s blog in April and the enabling work packages are well underway. Part of these works is the demolition of redundant hardened buildings to allow later works packages to deliver office and technical facilities, aircraft shelters, servicing platforms, training facilities and aircraft operational surfaces.
![Demolition of the structures has been by both conventional means and the chemical demolition technique. [Crown Copyright/MOD2016]](https://insideDIO.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/07/MG_7348.jpg)
Speedy Demolitions
To speed the process up, our Principal Contractor Balfour Beatty and their Sub-Contractors Anglian Demolition are using a new chemical demolition technique called Autostem. We believe it is the first commercial use of this technique in the UK.
The primary use of Autostem is to rupture the concrete to separate it from the reinforcement and create fissures which can be exploited by secondary hydraulic breakers and munchers. The technique involves drilling holes into the concrete, inserting the Autostem cartridges.
![Autostem capsules are places in holes drilled in the wall. [Crown Copyright/MOD2016]](https://insideDIO.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/07/MG_7356.jpg)
As a Royal Engineer I’m used to loud bangs, but this one was a little louder than expected! However, with Autostem there is no mass explosion, thus no flying debris which is clearly an advantage on a live airfield when what we call Foreign Object Debris is a concern and a danger to people, equipment and aircraft.
![It is vital to avoid any debris reaching the airfield and precautions are being taken to prevent this. [Crown Copyright/MOD2016]](https://insideDIO.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/07/MG_7346.jpg)
![The steel is separated from the concrete. [Crown Copyright/MOD2016]](https://insideDIO.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/07/MG_7347.jpg)
4 comments
Comment by Col Rattan posted on
Excellent Technology No shock waves no damage to surroundings
Comment by Robert Parsonage posted on
This might explain the choking chemical smell which is spreading around north Norfolk. It is definitely coming from Marham and was worst in the early parts of 2019.
It has got into the rainwater and therefore the water butts.
It has been reported to Environmental Health, but they cannot do anything because the site is a military one.
The odour seems to be heavier than air, and spreads along the ground. It has been detected as far as Hunstanton when the wind was from the south, Castle Acre, Swaffhan and, Necton when from the west, and presumably Kings Lynn with the easterlies.
It might be a good idea for removing the concrete, but poisoning an entire county? One can only feel for the military who have to work in this environment, and for whom it must be appalling.
Comment by DIO Communications Team posted on
Hi Robert
Thanks for your post. However, this technique was used for the demolition in 2016 so it does not explain what you are experiencing in 2019.
Comment by Robert Parsonage posted on
Many thanks for the reply. I didn't even know my comment had been successfully posted, but I'm pleased it was.
One one particularly bad day, I drove through the village, and the air was choking. Are the people on the Marham site aware of it, and is there anything they can do? There must be something else being used there, which is spreading along the ground.
It remains a mystery.